Road Trip 2012

Day 1. 10/6/12
Left North Augusta at 5:15am & met family at GMC dealership in Birmingham at 10am. Loaded up RV then stopped for Subway. Arrived at Shiloh battlefield 4pm with chilly cloudy weather. Kane & I rode bikes through battlefield. Ezra loved exploring the woods & Alex wore her new rain boots, puppy fleece, & coon hat. General thought the battlefield was very pristine. Mom & Alex were having fun in the Shiloh Church singing songs. Allie was on the ball & found a Mexican restaurant in the middle of nowhere. The kids stayed up until 9pm & slept in a cabin Nana got us. It was raining so we didn't tent camp at Cherokee Landing. The cabins looked EXACTLY like the ones at Indian Lakes we used to stay at when I was a little girl. Alex woke up 5 times asking, "can I sleep in RV with Nana?" Ezra, right before we went to sleep, pulled down the heavy trundle bed on top of him. He busted his lip & had a bloody nose. Poor guy! Allie (& her casted leg) & Alex shared a floppy bed & Kane & I had a queen. We were a little spooked being the only ones in the huge, dark campground. Kane & I watched the movie "Role Models" then crashed.

Day 2. 10/07/12
Woke up at 6:45am to little Alex whining she wants to be in RV with Nana. Drove through rain in Arkansas and stopped at Fort Smith, Trail of Tears, Whiskey Wars, Civil War. Stayed in RV at Comfort Inn in Oklahoma City, OK.

Day 3 10/07/12
Yukon, OK saw Garth Books Road & Chisilm Trail Crossing. Cherokee Trading Post bought Alex a spirit pouch necklace and saw Indian mural & buffalos. Stopped at Route 66 museum in Clinton, OK & bought postcards for Klint & Uncle Curtis. In Groom, TX we saw the big cross. For a late lunch we stopped in Amarillo, TX at Big Texan Steakhouse. I had the best pork ribs ever! Family loved the shooting gallery animal heads. We stayed at Best Western & Alex swam with General.

Day 4 10/09/12
Left Moriarity, NM & stopped west of Albuquerque at the Petroglyph National Monument & hiked the Boca Nogra trail. General bought the kids Junior Ranger hats & I bought an authentic necklace. We even saw 2 coyotes. We had salads from Denny's to go then the RV had problems & needed some minor repairs. We barely made it to the Petrified Forest...had to race to a trail, jump out, & snag a picture of the old logs. The park was closing so we headed to Holbrook, AZ for a hotel.

Day 5 10/10/12

Day 6 10/11/12
Woke up in tv nice & toasty very early. Body still waking up for body pump! Got everybody free breakfast at hotel then took kt back to her rental home. Headed for Grand Canyon at 830am. Started raining on the way. Saw elk at entrance & took picture next to sign. Saw movie at visitor center then took bikes out because there was a break in the weather. Ended up taking shuttle to ...Point and stopping along way.. It was chilly out & rainy. The canyon had shadows but was still breathe taking.Ezra flirted with old ladies. We missed sunset because kids were hungry & it was drizzling. Checked in at Yavapai Lodge & ate dinner at the cafeteria.

Day 7 10/12/12
Woke up at 5 & super excited to see sunrise. Kane stayed back with kids. Went back to lodge & packed up at 8am & headed for desert drive road. It started to snow! Climbed tower. Ate at route 66 diner in Williams. Ezra had cherry shake. Visited Sunset crator & Wapukati NM. Saw snow on Flagstaff mountains.  Arrived in Sedona after dusk & checked inn Days Inn Friday night in our 2 room suite. A family of Halacabra? were spotted outside room.

Day 8 10/13/12
In the morning I got coffee & got first glimpse of rocks. Sedona is magical. Tons of hiking & cute shops. Dropped Kane at Courthouse Butte to mountain bike for the day. The kids & I went to Chapel on the Rocks. It was pretty. Bought a Christmas ornament. We then ate our picnic snack at Bell Rock Trail. Alex wanted a "treat" so we went into town & shopped. Alex picked out a puppy dog named Sedona with a pink dress. Met Kane & brought lunch but he lost bike when he hiked. The kids slept while he retraced trail. After relaxing at hotel we planned to hike to Devils Bridge. It took us 40 minutes longer to hike & got back at dark. Kane took a wrong turn! But, luckily Devils Bridge was awesome. I was shaking as I crossed.

Day 9
10/14/12
Shopped on Scottsdale at Gap outlet & Columbia. Dropped Kane at Phoenix Airport. Went to Sheraton Hotel with family. Ate lunch at a Mexican grill & had yummy shrimp mango cilantro quesadillas. Swam in rooftop pool. Shopped in gift shop. Hiked with Ezra to downtown Safeway to buy groceries. Watched Sherlock Holmes with Allie & ordered room service!

Day 10
Woke up & swam with Ezra & Alex then left for Prescott to visit Katie. Shopped at Columbia outlet again where Ezra wiped out & got a bloody lip. Made Katie dinner then hung out at her rental place while Ezra played. Bought her alcohol as a thank you gift.

Day 11
Ezra slept horribly in rv. Went on hike with Katie in The Dells at 7am. Prescott was beautiful, surrounded by mountains. Went to mall & shopped at jcpenny. Looked around World Market store. Katie fave us a quick tour of Embry Riddle & we met family at student union to eat lunch. We hung out at Katies rental house & chatted in the afternoon after het class.

Day 12

augusta market on the river

What a beautiful Saturday! A&E had so much fun at the market. Alex got a handmade flower ring & split a fresh lemonade with Ezra, while I picked up a $2 kitty spoon rest & mixed cherry tomatoes. We also saw some new ghsu housestaff auxiliary friends.

Splashpad Fun

We just adore our north augusta splashpad! Especially when we have it all to ourselves on a sweet sunny day.

Figaro (Or is it Gilbert?)

This week we adopted a pet. I briefly asked Kane if it was alright to get a kitty kat; & he said "ya, sure, that's fine." So naturally, the next day after our playdate at the Moore's home, we drove waaaaay out to the Columbia County Animal Shelter & adopted a kitty. He is black & white with a black freckle on his nose. He was already fixed. And de-clawed front & back. He was the LOUDEST older kitten at the shelter; literally, meowing like crazy so I wasn't drawn to him first. Until, I learned he was dropped off the day before by an elderly women on her way to be hospitalized. So, we visited with him & I was in love. Since he didn't have any claws, Ezra & Alex would be pretty safe. I totally don't believe in de-clawing, but if its already done then, hey, why not? The tuxedo kitty was between 3 and 6 months old. We adopted him for $20, took a quick picture, then was on our way home. Actually, we had to make a stop at Petco & get food & litter.

I took some pictures of the kids playing with the kitty. Alex initially named him Figaro, but the next day started calling him Gilbert. You know, the kitty off of the pbs show, Caliou? Well, I keep calling him Figaro, & Alex keeps calling him Gilbert. She will probably win!!

Ezra loves him...he chases him around and pets his soft ears. He wakes up & looks for the kitty. I am sooooo glad I got him. I forgot how much I miss a little furry friend. Alex has already had Figaro ride the princess pony, sit at her make up bench, play in the tunnel, chase a ball, chase a feather, pretend to be a baby wrapped in her blanket, & sit on her bed while she reads a book. Maybe Alex will watch less Netflix & play with kitty more!!

Blog to Print OR Blog to Book

I just discovered I can literally create a blog, then print it in book format later on. How cool! I wish I could count on myself to post regularly so that I could print a book off for each of my children, instead of creating two separate Shutterfly photo books. hmmmmm.....

blog 2 print

Blurb.com

Just me & my son

Alexandra is with her Nana & General for Spring Break 2012 in Orlando, Florida. My two youngest sisters are enjoying special time with their niece & are relishing in her cuteness! I, on the other hand, have Ezra all to myself. He is a handsome bundle of baby boy love at 10 1/2 months. Below are some activities we have done while big sister Alex is out of town. (Which is bitter sweet because I miss her dearly, but I love having quality time with Ezra)

Thursday - Grocery shopping, organizing toy room, playing outside
Friday - Savannah River Rapids walk with Emily & baby Henry,
Saturday - Augusta Living Green Day at the Augusta Commons, Augusta Mall with Marie & her children, baby Cormac & Cierra, hanging out on sun porch during rainstorm

Sunday - Worked in yard, watched Blue's Clues, bike ride on Greenway, dinner at the Soy Noodle House in Augusta on Broadway with Daddy

Monday - pulled weeds, shopping at Lowe's, built trellis, planted pepper, eggplant, & better boy tomato plants, shared a smoothie, walked Greenway

Tuesday - pulled weeds, played on sun porch, The Pizza Joint for dinner

Wed - played at North Augusta Library, lunch at Summerfiield Park

Thur - Play date with baby Henry & Emily

Fri - Road trip! Headed to Atlanta to check out The High Art Museum,

Sat - Fro Yo with cousin Katie, Easter egg hunt at Uncle Dan's home,

"If anything matters... everything matters."

The Shack on Amazon.com 

Okay, so last night was incredible.

After reading an incredible book, & meeting an incredible author, & listening to his incredible heart wrenching as well as heart warming journey, I realized LIFE IS INCREDIBLE.

Truly.

Incredible.

Let me start from the beginning! I was at the North Augusta library a few months back and noticed a flyer for a book event sponsored by the Friends of the Nancy Carson Library Foundation Inc.. William P. Young (or Paul as he prefers) would be a guest at a book event in North Augusta at Grace United Methodist Church. He apparently wrote, The Shack, which I had never heard of at the time.

Silly, I know, since the book has sold MILLIONS of copies in 40 different languages, & has been loved by many & critiqued by many more. I asked my book club members (Book Lovers R US) if our next pick could be The Shack. (Check out http://www.bookmovement.com/) Since a few had previously read the amazing book we agreed it would fit perfectly with Easter around the corner. I hurriedly bought it at Amazon.com (oh how Amazon Prime has changed my life haha) and started reading it immediately.
 I loved how the book made me stop to wonder.
And think.
And think some more.
Then read a little bit & look deep within my heart.
Then smile from the inside out.

For starters, the book blew me away! I savored every conversation I read, & easily applied it to my life as well as those I love and care for. Immediately I wanted to share it, as most readers have declared, because it is a FRESH way to look at the holy trinity.

(This post it about to get deep. Just a warning. I want to remember how I feel at this moment.)

So, as my mind tried to wrap itself around the VAST & COLOSSAL topics The Shack presents in a truly exceptional story fashion, I found myself in total life bliss.
My children never looked so amazing.
My husband was so handsome, inside & out.
The sunshine was brighter.
The wind was sweeter.
And the space within my heart was wide & deep, ready to be filled with grace again.
I found myself more ALIVE & able to cease the constant chatter of my ego & just BE PRESENT.

Which is the most difficult thing I have ever yet to do.
Awareness I learned from another book, is very, very powerful.

(Hello Stephanie's ego, I know how to keep you quite now.)

I finished The Shack a few days before the book event, & my anticipation grew & grew. I have never listened to an author speak, yet alone meet one! Thursday, March 22nd arrived & Kane picked up a pizza & promised the monkeys a good time at a park. I was honestly nervous leaving Ezra from 6pm to 9pm. How on earth was he going to fall asleep without me? Or my milk producers? Kane said he would be fine, & I wanted to believe him. At least Ezra was 10 months old & could probably cry a little before falling asleep without his mommy.

I got ready then hurried to the church a bit early to save seats for us girls. When I arrived and choose seats I heard a voice behind me I truly recognized. Was the radio on? Where have I heard that voice before? Then I turn around & directly behind me I see a tall gentleman chatting with a short smiling man. It was the author himself, Paul, & radio announcer Cleve Walker from 88.3 WAFJ! Right behind me!

I giggled quietly in my seat thought "if only he could sign my hardcover copy of the shack". But I was NOT going to be a silly fan and ask him then & there.

My luck changed, a few others near me figured out Paul was right there chatting with people and they decided to discretely ask him for an autograph. He greeting each individual with a huge bear hug, & listened to their personal story. I picked up my new dslr and gathered around Paul too...I was not going to miss this opportunity! Besides, he wouldn't have been out there with us unless he wanted to mingle.

Paul greeting me with a big hug and huge smile, then asked my name & how I was that evening. I smiled and said thank you for coming to North Augusta. He reached for my book

"If anything matters... everything matters."

For more information, check out   www.theshackbook.com

rare color photos

Check out these rare color photos from The Library of Congress


These vivid color photos from the Great Depression and World War II capture an era generally seen only in black-and-white. Photographers working for the United States Farm Security Administration (FSA) and later the Office of War Information (OWI) created the images between 1939 and 1944. 


My favorite one depicts commuters, who have just come off a train, waiting for the bus to go home, Lowell, Mass. (LOC). It has class! The women are dressed nicely...why isn't fasion like this anymore? Everyone has a hat; I wish hats were common again!

I also adore this one with a pretty sky & home in the country, it has that great vintage feel.

Negro tenant's home beside the Mississippi River levee 

I like the colors in this one taken in Natchez, Miss in front of a store in 1940.

Pause..drink Coca-Cola 

Instagram for Android Devices

Does anyone love Instagram for iphone? I think I may try out Instagram for android soon!

Instagram for Android Devices

Italian Nite

From The Pizza Joint Website

Okay, not necessarily authentic Italian cuisine, but pizza counts right? Kane texted me from the hospital and asked if we wanted to have a late dinner at The Pizza Joint located in downtown Augusta. (Late dinner equals 7 pm here!) Initially I didn't want to go; Ezra goes to bed at 7 and I figured he would be cranky at the restaurant. But on second thought, why not try it? We never take our kids out for dinner. Mostly for the sake of the other dinners; who wants to relish in good pizza & beer with fussy kids in the background?

From The Pizza Joint Website 

Then I remembered we are young parents who deserve to get out on the town even with kids in tow. So I bathed the monkeys & buttered them up with promises of gooey cheese & crispy crust. The Pizza Joint has a great eclectic atmosphere perfect for friends and family to gather over some good grub. We got a table near the back doors where all the server action is. Ezra was the perfect audience; he ogled over commotion around the ice machine and pizza assemble line.

From The Pizza Joint Website 

We knew before we arrived Tuesday had great specials... dollar drafts & two dollar slices. Usually the dollar drafts specials are not premium beers at most restaurants, just the run of the mill American beer. But not at The Pizza Joint, nope, I ordered a pint of Guinness. Yup, this girl fell in love with the Irish stout when she visited Ireland in 2008. Men around the world should be happy. Here is a mom who likes her dark beer.

from beerhelps.com

When the waitress brought our drinks, she immediately gave Kane the Guinness. He was like, "that's, my wife's..." I blushed and took the "meal of a drink". I promise, if you have never had Guinness on draft, give it a try, its magically smooth. (From the bottle its blah) 

The night was wonderful, Ezra happily gnawed on everything in sight since he is teething, the table next to us couldn't stop smiling at his goofy expressions, and Alex busied herself with her must-go-everywhere bag of "goodies" she calls it.

Oh, and the pizza? It was super yummy. My favorite is the crispy crunchy thin crust. My slice had chicken & peppers. Kane swears his meatball & green olive slice was to die for as well. The Pizza Joint...we will return!